Solar energy collecting and compounding device

ABSTRACT

A solar collection device is disclosed. The device includes mirrors for intensifying the collected solar energy. The output of the mirrors can be used to heat air or water or other fluids as well as ores or solids. In addition, artificial light can be used to supplement the solar energy.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/201,979 filed Dec. 17, 2008

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of solar energycollecting devices. In particular, the present invention is directed toa mirror configuration that will concentrate solar energy and willefficiently produce high temperature and energy levels. The presentinvention is used to gather solar energy and, through a unique and noveldesign, to focus and intensify the solar beams. The output of thepresent invention can be utilized in conventional devices to heat hotwater, air or other fluids and to intensely heat ores, liquids orchemical compounds to produce chemical and physical changes as well asother similar applications. For applications where interruptions inoperations must be minimized, such as a plasma converter, the embodimentcan include provisions for artificial light to supplement solar energyor substitute for solar energy.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Solar energy is collected and intensified by a system that consists oftwo stages. The first tracks the sun and gathers and directs the solarenergy by means of an optical device, such as an assembly ofparaboloidal mirrors or a fresnel lens, to a focal point whichcorresponds with the focal point of a paraboloidal mirror. This stagewill produce parallel radiant energy of greater intensity than the solarenergy collected. This parallel stream of radiant energy is transmittedto the second stage which focuses and intensifies the energy by anassembly of metal paraboloidal mirrors. The stationary second stagedelivers energy to a focal point where it is utilized to heat fluids orutilized by furnaces or reactors where it produces chemical or physicalchanges to ore or solid and liquid chemical compounds. The heated fluidsare useful to heat or air condition buildings or provide heat formanufacturing processes. The furnaces or reactors are used to provideintense heat for industrial processes. By intensifying the energylevels, materials can be converted to a plasma state without requiringvast areas of conventional reflective mirrors or lenses. By combiningstages in parallel or series, the system will provide the amount ofenergy and the temperature needed for specific applications. The ratioof sizes and focal lengths of the optical device and paraboloidal mirrorof stage 1 determine the intensity of the output from stage 1. Inaddition, as an element of other systems, the orientation of stage 2 canbe reversed so that energy focused at a point can be the input and theoutput would be parallel beams of energy. This particular use wouldprovide an extension of the systems.

Furthermore, at times when solar energy levels are too low to normallybe used effectively, the system will intensify the energy and elevatethe temperatures to a useful level. For installations generallyrequiring continuous operation, the embodiment includes sources ofartificial light with automatic controls to activate and regulate theintensity of the artificial light.

The solar energy collecting system of the present invention comprises anoptical device for collecting solar energy with a first focal pointwherein the collecting optical device functions to intensify the solarenergy by focusing the solar energy at the first focal point; aparaboloidal mirror with a second focal point for receiving the solarenergy from the collecting lens at the first focal point wherein theparaboloidal mirror further intensifies the solar energy by receivingthe solar energy at the second focal point and then produces andredirects a parallel stream of solar energy to an optical device with athird focal point for receiving the redirected solar energy from thefirst paraboloidal mirror for intensifying the solar energy andredirecting the solar energy to a third focal point whereby the solarenergy can be utilized for heating purposes and a tracking system suchthat the collecting lens and the first paraboloidal mirror will rotateduring daylight hours to follow the sun and optimize the collection ofsolar energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the various components of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an optical device assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the second stage of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates artificial light provisions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of the presentlypreferred embodiment thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that many obvious modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The solar collecting system 10 of the present invention is illustratedin FIG. 1. Stage 1 consists of the solar collecting system 10 and thetracking system 14. The system 10 comprises a collecting optical device12 or similar optical devices such as a fresnel lens or a paraboloidalmirror. In addition, it comprises a paraboloidal mirror 24. The axis ofmirror of 24 is parallel to shaft 11 that passes through the focalpoint. The plane of the mirror 24 is perpendicular to the axis of theshaft 11. The collecting lens 12 is connected to a solar tracking system14 so that the lens 12 can move during the course of a day so as to beoptimally positioned to collect solar energy during the daylight hours.Mirror 12 rotates and tilts as it tracks the sun while the paraboloidalmirror 24 rotates by means of shaft 11 but does not tilt. The opticalcollecting device assembly may include other configurations of theparaboloidal mirrors and flat mirrors which allows parallel streams ofenergy to enter one end and exit the other end to converge to a singlefocus point.

The solar tracking system 14 is also illustrated in FIG. 1. The solartracking system 14 is generally known to those of ordinary skill in theart and comprises a master tracking control 16, a rotational controlelectric motor 18, a gear drive 20, electric tilt control 22, andstructural support 23. The collecting mirror 12 is mounted on the armand gear 19. The structural support 23 will support the tilt track andcontrol drive 22 and tilt mechanism arm and gear 19. The gear deviceturns a shaft 11 that is supported by bearings 13. As it turns, theshaft 11 will rotate the collecting optical device 12. In addition, thecollecting optical device 12 will tilt about Point B on axis A-A so thatthe focal point of the collecting optical device 12 will correspondexactly with the focal point of the paraboloidal mirror 24 and Point Bthus directing radiant energy from the mirror 24 toward the intensifyingmirrors 25 and parallel with the rotational tracking shaft 11. Mirror 24is shown offset from the shaft 11 center line however the preferredposition of mirror 24 is such that the center line of the output beam ofenergy from mirror 24 is centered on the shaft 11 center line.

The collecting optical device 12 and paraboloidal mirror 24 focuses thesolar energy received there through onto the parabolic intensifyingmirrors 25. The second stage parabolic reflecting mirrors 25 are furtherdescribed below in connection with FIG. 2.

The intensifying mirror assembly 25 shown in FIG. 2 will now bedescribed in detail. The mirror assembly 25 is generally cylindrical inshape and will be mounted on a base 26. The cylindrical shape providesring shaped surfaces 28 with dimple shape mirrors 32 on the interiorthat reflect the solar energy and direct it to a central focus point 30.Initially, the solar energy will contact parabolic surfaces 28 & 32located along the central axis of the reflective mirrors 28 & 32. Theenergy will then impact the conical surfaces 29 and be reflected to thecentral focus point 30.

The intensifying mirrors 28 and dimple mirrors 32 may be constructed ofplastic with a reflective film on the interior in the case of moderatetemperature applications. The range of temperatures at the point offocus can reach 2000° F. For higher temperature applications in therange of 30,000° F. at the point of focus, the entire assembly 25 shouldbe comprised of chromium plated stainless steel or other similarmaterials to withstand the operating temperatures they will be subjectedto, in the range of 1,000° F. to 1,100° F. If necessary, fans may beused to circulate cooling air on any mirror or through the cylindricalassembly. Any optical device with parabolic or paraboloidal operationalcharacteristics may be substituted for the corresponding parabolic orparaboloidal mirrors.

An alternate version of stage 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises aplurality of solar collection and intensifying systems 10, as describedabove, can be utilized in a parallel configuration. In this way, severalstreams of intensified solar energy can be combined and utilized as aheat source for a furnace, hot water heater, etc. The alternate versionof stage 2 consists of flat mirrors 33 and paraboloidal mirror 34 withaxis 52. Energy streams from the plurality of systems 10 that willcontact mirrors 33 and be reflected to paraboloidal mirror 34 and thenceto focus point 35. The preferred embodiment of mirror 34 is paraboloidalbut a Fresnel lens or a spherical mirror can be used. A heat pipe 36 isshown encompassing one of the streams of energy 33. Heat pipes can beused to encompass any stream of energy.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for the use of artificial light for nightoperation or periods of reduced levels of solar energy. A very highlevel of artificial light is produced by an incandescent clear glasspoint source of radiant energy or an arc light 38, an electric powersource and support 44, an automatic electrical control and regulator 45,a support 50, Fresnel lenses 37 and 39, flat plate chrome-plated mirrors40 and 41, paraboloidal mirror 43, support 48, control circuitry 51 fromintensity detector 51 and intensifying mirror 25.

Energy from source 38 flows along three (3) paths: (a) to Fresnel lens37 to intensifying lens 25; or (b) to Fresnel lens 39 to flat mirrors 41and 42 to intensifying mirror 25; or (c) to paraboloidal mirror 43 tointensifying mirror 25. The output of source 38 is regulated byintensity detector 51 via control circuitry 52 and regulator 45.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing aremerely embodiments of the present invention and many obviousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit orscope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1) A solar energy collecting system comprising: a) A collecting opticaldevice for collecting solar energy with a first focal point wherein thecollecting optical device functions to intensify the solar energy byfocusing the solar energy at the first focal point; b) A firstparaboloidal mirror with a second focal point for receiving the solarenergy from the collecting optical device at the first focal pointwherein the first paraboloidal mirror further intensifies the solarenergy by receiving the solar energy at the second focal point and thenoutputs and redirects the solar energy; c) An intensifying opticaldevice assembly with a third focal point for receiving the redirectedsolar energy from the first paraboloidal mirror for intensifying thesolar energy and redirecting the solar energy to a third focal pointwhereby the solar energy can be utilized for heating purposes; and d) Atracking system such that the collecting optical device and the firstparaboloidal mirror will rotate during daylight hours to follow the sunand optimize the collection of solar energy. 2) solar energy collectingsystem of claim 1 wherein the intensifying optical device assemblyfurther comprises a series of parabolic cylinders and flat mirrorsconcentrically disposed inside a cylinder whereby the redirected solarenergy from the intensifying mirror assembly is directed to the thirdfocal point. 3) solar energy collecting system of claim 1 wherein thesystem further comprises an artificial light source for use when solarenergy is not available. 4) solar energy collecting system of claim 3wherein the artificial light source comprises an incandescent lightsource. 5) solar energy collecting system of claim 3 when the artificiallight source comprises a plasma nozzle. 6) solar energy collectingsystem of claim 2 whereby the collecting optical device comprises afresnel lens. 7) solar energy collecting system of claim 2 whereby thecollecting optical device comprises a second paraboloidal mirror. 8) Asolar energy collecting system comprising: a) A first optical collectingdevice for collecting solar energy with a first focal point where thefirst optical device functions to intensify the solar energy by focusingthe solar energy at the first focal point and then redirecting the solarenergy from the first focal point; b) A paraboloidal mirror with asecond focal point for receiving the redirected solar energy from thefirst optical device at the second focal point wherein the paraboloidalmirror further intensifies the solar energy by focusing the solar energyfrom the second focal point and produces and redirects a parallel streamof solar energy to an intensifying solar device; c) An intensifyingoptical device with a third focal point for receiving the redirectedsolar energy from the second optical device for intensifying the solarenergy and redirecting the solar energy to a third focal point wherebythe solar energy can be utilized for heating purposes; and d) A trackingsystem such that the first parabolic mirror and the second parabolicmirror will rotate during daylight hours to follow the sun and optimizethe collection of solar energy. 9) A solar energy collecting systemcomprising a plurality of solar energy collecting units wherein each ofthe solar energy collecting units comprise: a) A collecting opticaldevice for collecting solar energy with a first focal point wherein thecollecting optical device functions to intensify the solar energy byfocusing the solar energy at the first focal point and then redirectingthe solar energy from the first focal point; b) A paraboloidal mirrorwith a second focal point for receiving the solar energy from thecollecting optical device at the first focal point wherein theparaboloidal mirror further intensifies the solar energy by focusing thesolar energy at the second focal point and then outputs a parallelstream of solar energy from the second focal point; c) An intensifyingoptical device with a third focal point for receiving the solar energyfrom the paraboloidal mirror for intensifying the solar energy andredirecting the solar energy to a third focal point; wherein each of theplurality of solar energy collecting units redirect the solar energyfrom each of the third focal points to a paraboloidal mirror with afourth focal point whereby the solar energy at the fourth focal pointcan be used for heating purposes. 10) solar energy collecting system ofclaim 9 wherein the optical collecting device comprises a secondparaboloidal mirror. 11) solar energy collecting system of claim 9wherein the optical collecting device comprises a fresnel lens. 12)solar energy collecting system of claim 9 wherein the intensifyingoptical device assembly further comprises a series of paraboliccylinders and flat mirrors concentrically disposed inside a cylinderwhereby the redirected solar energy from the intensifying mirrorassembly is directed to the third focal point.